The Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) has confirmed that it will exercise its option to increase its shareholding in ITA Airways from 41% to 90% in June this year. The move was approved by Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board following a decision by the Executive Board.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lufthansa will acquire the additional 49% stake for €325 million. The transaction remains subject to regulatory clearance, including approvals from the European Commission and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), with completion expected in the first quarter of 2027. Once finalised, ITA Airways will be fully incorporated into the Lufthansa Group from both an organisational and financial perspective.
Lufthansa has held a 41% minority stake in ITA Airways since January 17 2025. As part of the purchase agreement signed with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) in June 2023, Lufthansa secured an annual option to acquire a further 49% stake in the airline. The company has now decided to exercise this option, enabling it to take majority ownership of Italy’s national carrier. The MEF, which is selling the additional shares, will initially retain the remaining 10% stake in ITA Airways. Lufthansa also has the option to acquire this final tranche in 2028.
At an annual meeting Carsten Spohr, CEO of the Lufthansa Group and Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG informed: “Following the acquisition of the first 4% stake in ITA Airways last year, we promised the fastest airline integration in our history. We aimed to complete all major integration steps into the Lufthansa Group within just 18 months. He continued: “We have not only kept this promise. We were even faster: All customer-facing interfaces are already integrated today—with the exception of North Atlantic flights, where, as is well known, regulatory approval for our merger is still pending.”
“Passengers already experience ITA Airways as an integrated part of the Lufthansa Group. With unified booking, sales, and fare systems, the Miles and More frequent flyer program, Star Alliance membership, and access to our global network of premium lounges.”
“Integration is also progressing in the cargo business. Since last year, Lufthansa Cargo has been marketing ITA Airways’ cargo capacity, which alone corresponds to the additional capacity of three Boeing 777 freighters. In light of this success story, we decided to exercise our option to acquire an additional 49% stake as early as June of this year.”
